Australian police smash Hong Kong-linked drug ring

Australian police said on Friday they had smashed a crime syndicate operating across Asia, leading to 27 arrests and the seizure of drugs and assets worth millions of dollars. Authorities said the organised gang – operating in China, including in Hong Kong and Macau, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar – allegedly targeted Australia for its heroin and methamphetamine trade.

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Some of the A$4 million cash confiscated by the Australian Federal Police. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:45pm, 22 Mar 2013Updated: 3:37am, 23 Mar 2013

Australian police said on Friday they had smashed a crime syndicate operating across Asia, leading to 27 arrests and the seizure of drugs and assets worth millions of dollars.

Authorities said the organised gang – operating in China, including in Hong Kong and Macau, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam and Myanmar – allegedly targeted Australia for its heroin and methamphetamine trade.

“We know that ice (methamphetamine) availability has been increasing on our streets,” Victoria state police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana said.

“The dismantling of this organised crime syndicate, we expect, will dramatically affect that availability.”

Some of the 99 confiscated designer handbags. Photo: AFP

Australian Federal Police said they had seized some 42 kilograms of drugs along with A$4 million (HK$32million) in cash, in an operation launched in April last year to probe the alleged syndicate.

Also included in the haul were residential properties worth A$5 million, A$600,000 in casino chips, jewellery worth A$10,000, 99 designer handbags and wallets and a Lamborghini.

Police said Operation Volante was targeted at a longstanding crime gang they accuse of importing and trafficking substantial quantities of heroin and methamphetamine into and around Australia.